The Origins of the Phrase 'A Thundering Disgrace'

I love that phrase and here are the origins of it…

When, in the aftermath of the assassination of the British Ambassador to Ireland, Sir Christopher Ewart Biggs, the President, Cearbhall O Dalaigh, referred a number of key anti-terrorist Bills to the Supreme Court to test their constitutionality (in accordance with his constitutional right as President).

Paddy Donegan, an outspoken minister with a reputation for saying the wrong thing and who it turned out had a drink problem and had taken some drink that day, lashed the President as a “thundering disgrace” in a speech to senior army officers.

Some reports in later books claimed that the term used was “thundering bollocks and fucking disgrace”, a version the President told a dinner party subsequently which he evidently believed was the correct one. However, the only journalist who was present at Donegan’s speech insisted that the term Donegan used was “thundering disgrace”.

O Dalaigh actually resigned after that because Liam Cosgrave would not sack Donegan thus undermining his position as President…

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[quote=“farmerinthecity”]I love that phrase and here are the origins of it…

When, in the aftermath of the assassination of the British Ambassador to Ireland, Sir Christopher Ewart Biggs, the President, Cearbhall O Dalaigh, referred a number of key anti-terrorist Bills to the Supreme Court to test their constitutionality (in accordance with his constitutional right as President).

Paddy Donegan, an outspoken minister with a reputation for saying the wrong thing and who it turned out had a drink problem and had taken some drink that day, lashed the President as a “thundering disgrace” in a speech to senior army officers.

Some reports in later books claimed that the term used was “thundering bollocks and fucking disgrace”, a version the President told a dinner party subsequently which he evidently believed was the correct one. However, the only journalist who was present at Donegan’s speech insisted that the term Donegan used was “thundering disgrace”.

O Dalaigh actually resigned after that because Liam Cosgrave would not sack Donegan thus undermining his position as President…[/quote]

Exactly
Thats why they’re all called T.D.'s now

But they were called TDs before the phrase ‘thundering disgrace’ came about…

Idiot…

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[quote=“farmerinthecity”]But they were called TDs before the phrase ‘thundering disgrace’ came about…

Idiot…[/quote]

Farmer dote,
If you make it any easier for me, Shannonsider’s handicapper hat will have to be exercised.

Good programme on Cearbhall O’Dalaigh there on TnaG.

:joy: